Just under 7,000 students missed more than 20 days in the Shannonside region during the 2023-24 school year. A report from Túsla shows that while primary school attendance rates have improved for a second year running, absence levels remain higher than they were prior to the pandemic. Annual attendance data for 2023/2024 shows total days lost and chronic absenteeism have both fallen for the second consecutive year. 3,827 total students were absent for more than 20 days across primary and secondary in Longford. In Leitrim, there were 1,218, while Roscommon's figure was 1,189.
The Department of Education and Youth, along with Tusla’s Education and Support Service have launched a phased rollout of a school attendance programme called Anseo. According to the Department, the model helps schools identify patterns of absenteeism at the student, class and whole school level, and to develop targeted responses. Five schools have been included. St Joseph's Primary School and Mean Scoil Mhuire in Longford, Scoil Mhuire in Carrick-on-Shannon, Athlone's Coláiste Chiaráin and St Paul's NS in Castlerea.
